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CONTENTS KIPLINGER’S PERSONAL FINANCE // FOUNDED 1947 VOL. 68 NO. 3 AHEAD 13 Topic A: Companies load up on their own shares . . . Employers make their 401(k) plans more attractive . . . Knight Kiplinger on money and ethics. PLUS: March money calendar. 20 SUCCESS STORY Savoring the fruits of their labor, by PATRICIA MERTZ ESSWEIN. 22 OPENING SHOT Newspapers: not dead yet, by JAMES K. GLASSMAN. INVESTING 26 CASH IN ON THE NEXT BIG THING These five companies foster innovation and are converting their big ideas into investor-friendly profits. 30 HAPPY FIFTH BIRTHDAY, MR. BULL What we’ve learned since 62 the market began its ascent from hell. 33 FIVE EUROPEAN STOCKS TO BUY NOW A real recovery is taking hold on the Continent, and bargains in stocks abound. 35 PROMISED LAND Swimming in a cesspool, by ANDREW FEINBERG. 38 PRACTICAL INVESTING My 46 WHEN CAN YOU RETIRE? Use our guide to help figure out the age that’s right for you and take the steps to meet your goal. PLUS: Two profiles of people who chose diverging paths. 54 HOW TO COMPLAIN To get LIVING 62 LET’S MAKE A DEAL It’s a car buyer’s bonanza. Look for a generous supply of 2014s on dealer lots. Plus, many models now boast features once available only on luxury nameplates. 68 2014 BUYER’S GUIDE Our top picks in 11 categories, including sedans; small, midsize and large crossovers; wagons; and minivans. stocks are like family, by KATHY KRISTOF. the desired outcome, it pays to stay focused, be persistent and keep your cool. PLUS: A day in small-claims court. 40 CASH IN HAND Investors give Bernanke an A, by JEFFREY R. KOSNETT. 58 FAST FIXES FOR MONEY MISHAPS Solutions for ten common missteps—because accidents happen. need to know about streaming audio, by JEFF BERTOLUCCI. 36 MORE ABOUT INVESTING 53 GAME PLAN Appealing your 80 3 SIMPLE STEPS Safeguard property taxes, by SANDRA BLOCK . your bling. Pimco’s annus horribilis (36). How to read an annual report (41). News of the Kiplinger 25 (42). Fund rankings (43). AMANDA FRIEDMAN MONEY/COVER 60 ASK KIM How to buy an umbrella liability policy. ON THE COVER Photograph by Mark Hooper Stylist: Birte VonKampen 78 THE LOWDOWN What you IN EVERY ISSUE 6 FROM THE EDITOR The right age 61 MORE ABOUT YOUR MONEY to retire. Yields and rates (61). 10 LETTERS 3 03/2014 KIPLINGER’S PERSONAL FINANCE KIPLINGER.COM LOG ON & EXPLORE 5 Best Times to Buy TOP Save on your big-ticket purchases—such as computers, furniture and luggage—by planning ahead to buy when prices are lowest. kiplinger.com/links/whentobuy CARS FEATURES 1. 10 Cheapest Cars to Own kiplinger.com/links/cheapestcars 2. 12 New Cars w/ Highest Resale Value kiplinger.com/links/resale Kiplinger’s Economic Outlook Red Flags for IRS Auditors 3. 14 Most Fuel-Efficient New Cars kiplinger.com/links/fuelefficient Stay ahead with exclusive forecasts of inflation, GDP, employment, more. 14 factors most likely to trigger unwanted scrutiny of your tax return. 4. 10 Cars That Refuse to Die kiplinger.com/links/refuse kiplinger.com/outlooks kiplinger.com/links/auditredflags 5. Best Values: All-Wheel-Drive Vehicles kiplinger.com/links/awd INTERACT QUIZ YOURSELF Is It Tax-Deductible? Some breaks are legit. Others are not. Can you tell the difference? TOOL Compare New Cars Sort the universe of new cars by various costs and specs to find the best model for you and your budget. kiplinger.com/links/carguide ONLINE STORE New Tax Rules for 2014 This special issue of The Kiplinger Tax Letter alerts you to the most significant tax changes you’ll face in 2014, with practical advice to maximize deductions and claim all the benefits you can. JUMP-START YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN CUT INSURANCE COSTS GREAT FUNDS FOR 2014 Circle your calendar for February 20, when financial planners will be online all day at Kiplinger.com to answer your questions free. Kim Lankford reveals steps you can take to cut your insurance risk— and, with it, the cost of your premiums. Columnist Steve Goldberg makes his picks for the best no-load stock and bond funds, plus load funds and ETFs. kiplinger.com/ links/risk kiplinger.com/ links/goldberg LIVE CHAT KIM LANKFORD STEVE GOLDBERG live.kiplinger.com [email protected] @Kiplinger kiplinger.com/go/newtaxes2014 4 KIPLINGER’S PERSONAL FINANCE 03/2014 connect wi th Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Tumblr us HOW TO REACH US: Subscriptions. For inquiries about ordering, billing or renewing a subscription, or to report address changes, please have your mailing label handy to reference your account number and visit us online at kiplinger.com/customerservice or call 800-544-0155, Monday through Friday between 7 A.M. and 9:30 P.M. and Saturday between 8 A.M. and 6 P.M. central time, closed on Sunday. You can also write to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, P.O. Box 3292, Harlan, IA 51593-0472, or e-mail us ([email protected]). Reprints. PARS International Corp. (212-221-9595, ext. 237; e-mail, [email protected]). Content licensing. E-mail licensing@ kiplinger.com. Mailing lists. From time to time we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies whose products may be of interest to you. If you would rather not receive such solicitations, send your mailing label to P.O. Box 3292, Harlan, IA 515930472 and instruct us to exclude your name. TOP TO BOTTOM: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM; NASTCO/ISTOCK/THINKSTOCK; FUSE/THINKSTOCK; LISE METZGER (2) kiplinger.com/links/taxdeductible